REVIEW #6:
THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967): the first kung fu comedy!
Shaw Brothers’
first movie of 1967, THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) very quietly set history as
the first wuxia / comedy ever made. Released February 18th, 1967 it
was produced by Sir Run Run Shaw and directed by veteran director Yan Jun. Ting Shan-Hsi wrote the script, only his second film, but the film he wrote before this one was the great COME DRINK WITH ME (1966) in an effort with King Hu. THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) is
not as popular as other Shaw Brothers films of this period and while I have
read other reviews of this movie there is not a lot of information on the
making of the film and the audience’s reception of it. So we will just dig in
and experience it for ourselves, in other words – let’s get busy!
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| KEYSTONE COPS chase scene |
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| It says we are a comedy... what's a "comedy"? |
It does not make any sense but spoofs rarely do. This delightful send up of the plot devices used in the spy movies that were coming to be popular in the sixties was a great idea but to set it in ancient China is probably where it threw everybody off. The movie itself is very funny in certain places but defies logic in just as many places and so while one should only have fun with it, the movie is set in a genre where everything is taken very, very seriously. What a challenge!
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| And what am I --blind? |
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| Kim Jin-Kyu aka the Masked Man aka That Man in Chang-An aka Zhuang Bai the alchemist |
CAST REPORT
the good: Kim
Jin-Kyu as Zhuang Bai aka, The Masked Man aka, That Man in Chang-An. Fang Ying
as Princess Wen Yang. Alison Chang Yen as Hong-er. Tien Feng as King Dai Liu
Heng. Yan Jun as Cao Wu.
the bad: Park
Nou-Sik as General Lu Kun. Cheung Kwong-Chiu as General Zhang. Chiu Ming as
General Tian Ying.
HONORABLE
MENTION: Kim Jin-Kyu as That Man in Chang-An. Mr. Kim totally sells his
character as comedic when he has to and serious when he needs to, perfect
casting!
SPOTTED: Fan
Mei-Sheng as Cao Wu’s waiter.
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| Fan Mei-Sheng |
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| What do you mean "you have to go??!" |
FIGHT TIME: THAT
MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) has no fight choreographer credited. I counted eight (8)
fight scenes scattered throughout the movie. For the most part they are short
scenes with the exception of the four-minute finale. These fight scenes are
basically by the numbers “one, two, three – kill” sword fights, rarely (there
are exceptions, mostly during the finale.) more that two attackers at a time no
matter how many soldiers enter the scene. There is also some last minute under
cranking during the finally that just adds to the humor of the entire film, believe
me, you do not watch this film for the fights.
HONORABLE
MENTION: Alison Chang Yen’s (as Hong-er) double daggers versus soldiers with
swords and spears fight scenes with its very direct maneuvering and quick-kill
counters, were the best fights in the entire movie hands down. No nonsense,
practical self defense techniques, bravo!
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) is an automatic recommendation as a purchase
because it is collectible as the first wuxia / comedy ever made. I was very
animated while watching this movie with its the humorous moments and with the
sheer ridiculousness of some of the scenarios presented, so I am definitely recommending
it for the average viewer for pure popcorn entertainment! This movie is funny, period. That’s me for now,
see you next time.
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NEXT UP: THE TRAIL OF THE BROKEN BLADE (1967)
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